Jacksnax: Cumberland Blues! Soloing Strategies Grateful Dead

A little look under the hood of the Grateful Dead’s Cumberland Blues

[@thelatenightbar]

Rock 'n roll dude. That was fun.

[@kenny3485]

You Jacksnax are the best teach (by far) of the Greatful Dead jam! Thank you so much! Appreciate all the call outs to scale intervals and going at the slow & fast pace!!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Happy to help out

[@briggsyahn1422]

5:31

[@georgebennett2243]

JACK.....BOTTLE JERRY'S BUBBLING SYNCOPATION... YOU HAVE IT....NOBODY TEACHES THAT...YOUR CONTENT IS EXCELLENT

[@georgebennett2243]

THE PHRASING BEGINNING AT 16:01...YOUR RIGHT HAND..HOLY SMOKES...KILLER JERRY LINE...

[@ayushgvrg]

long live jacksnax

[@ruthhancock7665]

Truly amazing work… keep it up.

[@VintageWoodWorkshop]

Jack, I just found your channel and wanted to say I'm blown away by your playing in this video. This is exactly what I've been looking for to improve my speed and phrasing in this style. Thanks and keep up the awesome videos! Also, tell us about that Strat!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks for the nice comment! I’m not a Jerry clone… but I think I’ve got a handle on his essential stuff and mix it up with a fair amount of my own, more modern approach. Though the core of what’s there is his… and just general bluegrass and blues/rock stuff. Always fun to conjure the dead. Thanks!!! My Strat? It’s a AVRI from ‘87. It’s been refretted with big frets and loved up pretty good over the years. It’s sporting some Dimarzio VV pickups, and has the 2nd tone control wired to the bridge pickup. It’s a mid weight (7.5-8) guitar, made from Alder I think. The factory paint job was apparently poorly applied as it began flaking off recently in large chunks. Still…feels like home after the last 16 yrs. it’s been a good friend. Please subscribe if you value this type of content… I hope to see you around! Cheers, JD

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Great stuff.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks buddy!

[@DZKMN74]

Gonna spend my Saturday making this video my job! This is great, love the ideas and fantastic playing, fire man!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks…have fun!

[@farmdogmusic2365]

Hot lesson bro those are great interpretations of the licks and rhythm s

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Great to get this feedback from you! Check out the new one I just posted on Deal.

[@topwater22]

cumberland->rider ha ha I heard that! amazing lesson as always

[@brianesposito5912]

Floaties? Now you’re just showing off! I would love to take lessons from you.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks! [e-mail]

[@RandomVelocity]

Good stuff. Actually great! one of the best lessons I’ve seen focusing on one song. Noticed the Tennessee Jed and China cat licks you mixed in for fun. lol. I subscribed. Hang in there you’re a very good guitarist and teacher. I think you’ll have lots more soon

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks for the feedback Mark!

[@MrPete-pe6uk]

Exquisite!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Dude! Thanks for the kind word😊✌🏻

[@tuckerwood2896]

You're a phenomenal player my man!!! Thank you for blessing us with this

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

I appreciate that!

[@WyattZelle]

Yes! Thank you Jack. Stoked to dig in.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

My pleasure!

[@WyattZelle]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 Those Flatt and Rice runs are sick. Same for the sequenced licks. Definitely enough to keep me busy until the rapture... Thank you! Do you have a Venmo or any place I can send a few bucks? I appreciate your work!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@WyattZelle sure! PayPal [e-mail]

[@tyfenn]

first video i’ve seen of yours...awesome content!!! much respect!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks!

[@DehumanizedByTheCity]

Just found your videos, great stuff man!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Thanks! If you’re interested in learning how to solo over Dead tunes...there’s quite a few lessons for you to checkout on the channel. Please subscribe. Let me know if I can be of any help. Jack

[@DehumanizedByTheCity]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 thank you man, defiantly got some stuff to work on!

[@kjguitarman]

Another beauty! Love your style and teaching! Thank you!!! What version(s) of Cumberland Blues is this based, ie, studio, a specific live performance?

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Just my recollection and interpretation after listening to various sources and playing it with bands over the years…I’m hardly a purist, but this get the job done for me.

[@kjguitarman]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 you’re soloing and natural playing style is very inspiring. Please keep the lessons coming! I like your format in that you don’t just go over a song note for note, mirroring the actual song. You analyze how things are constructed and you make the student understand how to solo among other things.

[@jamesmorrison9893]

Your vids are awesome love watching all of them! Could you make one for new mingled blues? Thanks!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Hi James! Thanks for the kind words. I’m currently working on a few other lessons, but I’m always open to suggestions. Just to be clear, you mean the more recent sounding one? From Shakedown Street era onward? Not New New Minglewood from the early days. Plz confirm. Best, Jack

[@jamesmorrison9893]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 I’m specifically interested in the New Minglewood blues from the live shows in 77. No need rush it, I’ll be around. Also, just by the way, it is really helpful to see a demo at the beginning of the videos. And it is really fun to watch!

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@jamesmorrison9893 I agree...but I can’t get too crazy about it. I’ve done it in the past with some tunes like Bertha, Ramble on Rose, Eyes, Scarlet etc...but the looser more conceptual lessons for Fire, Bird Song, Dark Star and Cumberland seemed to go over just as well. Trying to teach note for note solos is really asking a lot when they get long...as is often the case with the Dead. I guess it depends on the tune. I’ll specifically check out some of that 77 run. I was digging some 87 today because I read your request. Good stuff, I’m happy to help! Take care.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@jamesmorrison9893 Hey...felt kind of inspired today. What do you think? Should I break this down and do a lesson? kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4i5l6umfLSLZ9E

[@jamesmorrison9893]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 dude this is so awesome! You killed it! Honestly man all of my wishes have been fulfilled from watching you rip that, I’d definitely upload that video. Whether you make a tutorial is up to you in my opinion, I’d definitely watch it but I’m sure you got other stuff on your plate. love all the GD content! Enjoy watching your playing

[@todd_bugbee]

I think the main rhythm part is tonic flat three to major third fourth fifth

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Hi! This is simply how I play it…Im not too concerned about playing stuff exactly like JG all the time. There are some things I transcribe note for note others I just care about serving the song, and giving the right vibe. Still sounds like Cumberland to me. For me…This part is just a jam/vamp in G7 and I’m certain JG didn’t play it like me, or the same way every time. So you’re 100% right that this isn’t a NFN transcription. But to me, the point is…that if we’re playing this song we should have something that serves this function. A general riff that outlines the G7 vamp. That’s the best thing about this stuff…you can choose to get as close to the source as you want, or take it someplace new. This is my way to play it…still derived from Jerry’s approach, but a little tweaked (like me🤪) Thanks so much for participating and sharing your knowledge for those who might want to have a more literal breakdown.

[@todd_bugbee]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 indeed, good stuff man!

[@tjzen1180]

Hi Jack that was a great lesson thanks a lot . Could you also tell me what strings you're using [gauges and brand] thanks appreciate it.....I'm using Fender or Earnie Ball 11's .TJ Zen.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

TJ! Hey...thanks for the comment/question. String stuff: I use EB 10s on my Strat and 335. I use 9s on my shredder guitars and teles. I used to use 11s and 10/11 hybrid sets, but I’m getting older and I don’t see the need to kill my fingers. BTW I think I like the brighter sound and slinky feel of the 10 and 9 gauge sets more actually. I started using the thicker ropes in the SRV era...glad I went back a few years ago. Keep watching and let me know what you’re into learning, maybe I can help! Cheers! Jack

[@tjzen1180]

Thanks for the feedback ...if you have time pass by my channel and subscribe if you can and check out my playing , it's quite diverse and give me your opinion ! Have a nice day......I'm probably going to try 10's again soon , [Va]n Halen, Deep Purple etc !!!!!

[@kjguitarman]

@@tjzen1180 I used to use 11s, mostly SRV influenced. They were killing my fingers! After reading and watching numerous videos on the sound differences between light and heavy gauge, which there is little difference to the human ear, I’m playing NYXL .9s. Love them!

[@johnmeister4761]

Can we get tab for the intro riff

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Sorry my friend! No tabs here.

[@inkalicious7868]

Is this all G major?

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Nope…Using a mix of both Maj/Min pentatonics

[@inkalicious7868]

@@jacksnax4guitar460 Mixing G major and minor pentatonic?

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@inkalicious7868 yes

[@dom6023]

7:28

[@dom6023]

7:56

[@dom6023]

7:58

[@dom6023]

8:00

[@oooogieazgolf]

My video is way out of sync. Anybody else?

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

Hi Kim…just saw your comment. Mmm. I watched and everything seemed right. Perhaps retry?

[@oooogieazgolf]

It caught up about 2 minutes in Jack. Thanks for the reply and really good stuff here.

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@oooogieazgolf whew! Hope you can steal some licks/ideas! JD

[@jacksnax4guitar460]

@@oooogieazgolf Thanks brother…I’m trying!